A past made present
Like so much of art, history and life, Arta began not with a plan, but as an impulse… an infatuation with the timeless charm of Hydra and the island’s role as a crossroads where the global jet set mingled with a legendary community of artists, writers, poets and revolutionaries.
“Tiny, intimate and engagingly stylish”Francesco Bruni, Il Viaggiatore alla Moda
Amid quirky angles and traditional white washed arches, our self-catering house offers three independent rooms arranged around a tiny walled and gated courtyard. With vintage floor tiles, ancient wood doors, artisanal bath amenities and a collection of original art, even the smallest details are designed to surround and seduce you with the unique spirit of Hydra life to become an unforgettable part of your Arta stay.
Our House
Where a simmering spirit of revolution lives on
Arta sits mere steps from the famed Australian House, the 1950s-1960s home of expatriate writers Charmian Clift and George Johnston and a gathering point for Beat poets Jeffrey Corso, Harry Norse and Alan Ginsberg as well as musician Leonard Cohen. But Hydra’s alternative spirit did not begin with them. Independent attitudes have always run deep on this little island, its residents instrumental in the Greek War of Independence.
Along the way, Arta has retained its own quietly defiant attitude expressed by the house’s oddly perpendicular setting in an otherwise quaint little lane. Similarly, its steadfast refusal to grow above a single story when all of its neighbors built skyward makes Arta an architectural rarity and ensures that it remains an authentic and memorable retreat on a charmingly human scale.
“I never knew this small could be quite this cool.”Daphne Selle-Cyr, Cellist
Our Courtyard
A beating heart
Arta’s tiny central avli or courtyard forms the heart of the house with the three guest rooms arranged around its perimeter. Within the purity and whiteness of its inner sanctum, tables and chairs sit amid potted flowers and aromatic herbs as the sounds of Hydra fade to a subtle rhythm. It’s an ideal location for enjoying a brought-in breakfast or an inspired mid-day salad. A soft lounge is piled high with indulgent cushions for sunning, curling up with a good book or simply sharing an evening drink with others… the perfect atmosphere for withdrawing from the beaches, shopping and sightseeing to a place of insular beauty and calm.
“Per favore non andateci… voglio il posto tutto per me”
(Please don’t go there… I want the place all to myself)Donatella Casati, Socialite
Our Lifestyle
Irresistibly rebellious. Forever fashionable
Arta was created as an alternative to conventional, lackluster short-stay accommodation for those who enjoy an authentic engagement with art, design, fashion and architecture wherever they travel. The decor of each of Arta’s rooms has been carefully considered and contain an amazing assortment of original works of art, photography and gallery ephemera.
“A little Greek purity, a touch of rustic Puglia and Larry Gagosian’s cast aways thrown in for fun!”
Roger de Vores, Gallerist
From vintage fashion photographs by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, to works by Arte Povera icon and local resident Jannis Kounellis, as well as memorabilia from Hydra’s expatriate writers such as Henry Miller and Patrick Leigh-Fermor, the collection is unabashedly eclectic. And just to keep you in the know, you’ll also find a changing selection of current fashion, travel and culinary books that highlight kindred spirits and contemporary innovators from some of the world’s trendiest getaways. Whether it’s farm to table food from Napa, the barefoot luxury of Tulum or the gypset culture of Ibiza, Arta embraces an all-encompassing connectivity with the global creative scene.
Our Rooms
Life less ordinary
Arta offers three lovingly appointed non-smoking guest rooms with private baths. They may be rented individually, in combination, or the house can be taken in its entirety for a stay by a family or friends with a maximum sleeping capacity of seven adults. Please keep in mind that Arta is entirely self-catering and not a hotel. Although we do not have staff on site, we have tried to anticipate your every need to ensure that your stay is as enjoyable as possible. In our attempt to support a greater degree of slower, more engaged eco-conscious travel, we request a minimum booking of three nights.
“Whatever the two smaller rooms lack in space, they more than make up for in style”Sylvie Lazare, InVogue
Our Location
At the Center
Sitting on a quiet residential lane in the heart of Hydra’s harbor town, and less than 300 paces from the the waterfront with no significant steps to climb, Arta is within easy range of all of the town’s cafes, restaurants and shops. Arrival on foot is an easy matter and our House Manager will meet you at the ferry to show you the way. Donkeys and hand carts can also be arranged at an extra charge for the convenient transport of your luggage.
“Une célébration de l'Hydra immortelle”Roger de Vores, Gallerist
